Chevrolet Bolt-On Upgrades - Bolt-On Bonanza

Compilation of High-Performance Goodies

Back to the Front

If you want to drastically improve the handling and braking of your shoebox Nova, few upgrades are as effective as Heidts’ front subframe/suspension kits. For about $3,000 you can change your Nova from feeling like a refrigerator full of bowling balls to a ground-hugging performer. It just bolts right onto the firewall in place of the original subframe with no welding. They come with adjustable coilover shock assemblies, tubular control arms, 11-inch disc brakes with Wilwood four-piston calipers, and manual rack-and-pinion steering setup. You can also get this with narrowed control arms (for those who want wide tires), and larger, six-piston brakes. The list of options for these kits is vast, so if you want something specific on your frontend, Heidts will likely offer it as an option.

2/17

PN: BX-320Price: Starts at $3,200

What We Would Do:
If money was no object (and if we had a ’67 Nova), we would order a triple-throw-down front clip from Heidts with all the badass big brakes, narrowed tubular arms, sway bar, drop spindles, and power steering rack. Then, we’d match the front with Heidts’ bolt-in Pro-G independent rear suspension and start carving corners at brain-bruising speeds.

Heidts Hot Rod & Muscle Car Parts
800.841.8188
heidts.com

Increasing Aggression

Mast Motorsports’ Stage III Track Package for LS3

If you’re dismantling your car that’s only a couple years old, it typically means you either bought a lemon, or you really want to go faster. For those who are daring enough to take apart their LS3 engine for the sake of horsepower, you are in luck with Mast Motorsports’ Track Packages. Available in three different levels that cover even the L99, Mast’s Stage III kit can increase your fifth-gen’s horsepower by over 120 in some engine combinations. The heads included are Mast’s expertly ported 12-degree castings, and to match them is a single-bolt camshaft with a duration of 230/244 at 0.050, with a lift of 588/607. The package also comes with Mast’s premium nitrided valvesprings and stainless valves.

3/17

PN: CallPrice: $5,000

What We Would Do:
Since we already talked about beating on a hypothetical ’12 Camaro in the Moroso piece earlier, we’ll continue pretending. We imagine after a few years of running our Camaro SS with just a supercharger, the need for speed would probably take over and we’d likely end up salivating over one of Mast’s Track Packages. This can really take your late-model to the next level, and with an estimated 125hp increase, coupled with some boost or nitrous, you could have one very fast fifth-gen.

Mast Motorsports
866.551.4916
mastmotorsports.com

Coiled, Ready to Strike

Detroit Speed’s A-Body Coilover Conversion

If you want to make your ’64-66 A-body traverse like a modern sports car, you’re going to need a lot of help. Besides being typically heavy, those old car suspension designs were never intended to handle aggressive cornering, so that’s why Detroit Speed came up with a bolt-on coilover rear suspension (as well as front suspension) for GM’s popular muscle cars. Besides being easily installed, the DSE coilover package also offers extensive ride height adjustability with custom valving in the struts. Available in single or double adjustable, this bolt-on kit offers multiple settings for both compression and rebound.

4/17

PN: 042404Price: $1,100

What We Would Do:
This is the type of product we were talking about in the intro—a kit that basically empowers the at-home gearhead to start tackling more serious bolt-on projects. We would have this setup under what we picture being a “homebuilt hero”, something that can be put together in the garage with basic tools, but still be a performer on the street and track.

Check out Todd Nelson's 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS! This car has a clean and sleek personality, from the beautiful black-as-night exterior paint to the flawless high quality leather interior. » Read More

Most people look past the small 4.8L engine and go straight for the bigger ones. In this Little LS Slugfest, we compare both stock and modified versions of the 4.8L and 5.3L engines, now you be the judge! » Read More